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Cutting balloon catheter having a segmented bladeRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Instruments, Internal Pressure Applicator (e.g., Dilator), Inflatable Or Expandible By FluidCutting balloon catheter having a segmented blade description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060106412, Cutting balloon catheter having a segmented blade. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention pertains to angioplasty and angioplasty balloon catheters. More particularly, the present invention pertains to angioplasty balloon catheters that include one or more cutting blades coupled to the angioplasty balloon. BACKGROUND [0002] Heart and vascular disease are major problems in the United States and throughout the world. Conditions such as atherosclerosis result in blood vessels becoming blocked or narrowed. This blockage can result in lack of oxygenation of the heart, which has significant consequences, since the heart muscle must be well oxygenated in order to maintain its blood pumping action. [0003] Occluded, stenotic, or narrowed blood vessels may be treated with a number of relatively non-invasive medical procedures including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), and atherectomy. Angioplasty techniques typically involve the use of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter is advanced over a guidewire so that the balloon is positioned adjacent a stenotic lesion. The balloon is then inflated, and the restriction of the vessel is opened. [0004] One of the major obstacles in treating coronary artery disease and/or treating blocked blood vessels is re-stenosis. Evidence has shown that cutting the stenosis, for example, with an angioplasty balloon equipped with a cutting blade during treatment, can reduce incidence of re-stenosis. Additionally, cutting the stenosis may reduce trauma at the treatment site and/or may reduce the trauma to adjacent healthy tissue. Cutting blades may also be beneficial additions to angioplasty procedures when the targeted occlusion is hardened or calcified. It is believed typical angioplasty balloons, alone, may not be able to expand certain of these hardened lesions. Thus, angioplasty balloons equipped with cutting edges have been developed to attempt to enhance angioplasty treatments. There is an ongoing need for improved angioplasty devices, including cutting angioplasty balloons, and improved methods of treating intravascular stenoses and occlusions. BRIEF SUMMARY [0005] The present invention relates to angioplasty balloon catheters. In at least some embodiments, an example balloon catheter may include a catheter shaft having a balloon coupled thereto. One or more cutting members or blades may be coupled to the balloon. The cutting members may include a first section, a second section, and a bridge section disposed between the first and second sections. The bridge section is designed to yield, fracture or separate from the first section, second section, or both when the catheter is disposed within the body. These and other features are described in more detail below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an example cutting balloon catheter disposed in a blood vessel; [0007] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a representative cutting member and a joining member for connecting the cutting member to a balloon; [0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cutting member of FIG. 2; [0009] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a bridge portion included in the cutting member shown in FIG. 3; [0010] FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of a portion of the cutting member shown attached to a balloon; [0011] FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of a portion of the cutting member shown attached to a balloon where the bridge is separated from a first section and a second section of the cutting member; [0012] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the bridge in FIG. 6 as separated from the first section and the second section of the cutting member; [0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another example cutting member; [0014] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another example cutting member; [0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another example cutting member; [0016] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another example cutting member; and [0017] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another example cutting member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0018] The following description should be read with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. The detailed description and drawings illustrate example embodiments of the claimed invention. [0019] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an example catheter 10 disposed in a blood vessel 12 and positioned adjacent an intravascular lesion 14. Catheter 10 may include a balloon 16 coupled to a catheter shaft 18. One or more cutting members or blades 20 may be coupled to balloon 16. In general, catheter 10 may be advanced over a guidewire 22, through the vasculature, to a target area. Balloon 16 can then be inflated to expand lesion 14, and cutting members 20 may cut lesion 14. The target area may be within any suitable peripheral or cardiac vessel lumen location. Continue reading about Cutting balloon catheter having a segmented blade... Full patent description for Cutting balloon catheter having a segmented blade Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Cutting balloon catheter having a segmented blade patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Cutting balloon catheter having a segmented blade or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Adjustable disposable/single-use blade lancet device and method Next Patent Application: Cutting balloon catheter having flexible atherotomes Industry Class: Surgery ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Cutting balloon catheter having a segmented blade patent info. 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